ATLANTA – A new internal poll taken by Democrat Jon Ossoff’s U.S. Senate campaign shows the investigative journalist essentially tied with incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue.
The survey of 800 likely general election Georgia voters conducted between July 9 and July 15 found Ossoff holding a slight lead over Perdue, 45% to 44%. However, that margin was well within the poll’s margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5%.
While the poll found the two candidates in a virtual dead heat overall, Ossoff held a substantial lead – 55% to 39% – among those interviewed who know both candidates.
In a memo to the Ossoff campaign, Democratic pollster Fred Yang, founding principal of the Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group, noted the Democrat has room to build additional support because he currently trails Perdue in name recognition 85% to 64%.
“Jon is in an extremely strong position heading into November,” said Ellen Foster, Ossoff’s campaign manager. “As more voters hear Jon’s unifying message, his support across the Peach State will continue to grow.”
Ossoff and Perdue have been busy on the airwaves since winning their parties’ nominations in last month’s primaries, both touting their own qualifications and positions on issues and attacking their opponent.
The two have been airing TV ads paid for by their own campaigns as well as ads financed by the parties’ campaign committees and independent political action committees.
Ossoff won a crowded Democratic primary in June, avoiding an August runoff by winning more than 50% of the vote. Perdue was unopposed in landing the Republican nomination to seek a second six-year term.
Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp (Photo by Beau Evans)
ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp signed bills Tuesday aimed at cracking down on human trafficking in Georgia and improving the state’s foster care system.
The governor made both issues top priorities of his agenda for the 2020 General Assembly session that ended late last month.
“Today is an important step forward to ensure a brighter, safer future for Georgia’s children in foster care and bring an end to human trafficking in our state,” Kemp said in a prepared statement.
“As these bills take the force of law, we are fulfilling an ongoing commitment to enhance our foster care system, achieve positive outcomes for our children and hold the perpetrators of human trafficking accountable.”
House Bill 823 and House Bill 911 were part of Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp’s initiative to target human trafficking and better protect foster children.
Under House Bill 823, anyone who knowingly uses a commercial motor vehicle to transport victims of sexual or labor trafficking will lose their commercial drivers license for life.
House Bill 911 prohibits foster parents from engaging in improper sexual behavior with children in their care, closing a loophole in current state law.
“I want to thank the sponsors of [the two bills] for working alongside Governor Kemp and I to put Georgia’s children first, hold bad actors accountable, and ultimately bring an end to the evil of human trafficking in our state,” Marty Kemp said.
Both bills took effect upon the governor’s signature.
ATLANTA – The state of Georgia is stepping up its coronavirus testing capacity with a new partnership.
The state is working with Raleigh, N.C.-based Mako Medical to provide enough supplies and services for 10,000 tests per day, a capacity increase that will allow Georgians to receive results within 48 hours.
“As demand for testing has soared across the country, many private labs have been unable to process tests quick enough to aid in contact tracing and mitigation efforts,” Gov. Brian Kemp said. “With some Georgians waiting well over a week for their results, the status quo is unacceptable.
“This new partnership will not only expand the number of tests the state is able to administer, but also greatly reduce the turnaround time of those tests. This is vital to Georgia’s efforts in our fight against COVID-19.”
Georgia has worked with other companies, including LabCorp, to beef up testing since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the state back in the early spring.
“Expanded and streamlined testing is absolutely crucial,” said Kathleen Toomey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Our contract with Mako Medical will boost test processing capabilities and enable our army of contact tracers to respond quicker to newly identified cases.”
The contract with Mako was announced as the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the state reached 145,575. As of late Monday, 3,176 Georgians had died from the virus.
ATLANTA – Georgia’s public college and university presidents are fully onboard with plans to open campuses to in-person instruction during the upcoming fall semester.
That’s the sentiment expressed in a recent letter to the University System of Georgia Board of Regents signed by the presidents of 24 of the system’s 26 campuses.
“Resuming in-person classes this fall will be a difficult but important task, and it is one we are committed to achieving, as it serves the best interests of our students and the state of Georgia,” the letter stated. “The campus experience is an essential part of the educational growth that is critical for the overall success of our students.”
The letter comes as some K-12 school systems in Georgia are choosing to stick with online classes only this fall as a way to discourage the spread of COVID-19.
The largest school district in the state, Gwinnett County Public Schools, announced Monday that it would open Aug. 12 with online-only instruction. Atlanta Public Schools made the same decision earlier this month.
Other K-12 school systems are going with a hybrid of in-person and online classes to start the fall semester.
The university system transitioned to online-only instruction during late March and early April as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in Georgia. An analysis completed early last month found the conversion went smoothly, and the system stuck with online courses during the summer semester.
However, since early April, system Chancellor Steve Wrigley and the regents have been developing plans to bring back in-person classes this fall.
“While the transition to online went well thanks to faculty, staff and students, clearly for many students it was an unsatisfying experience,” Wrigley wrote in response to a letter dated July 2 from faculty members at Georgia Tech expressing concerns about the health risks to students, staff and faculty of reopening the campus.
“The delivery of this instruction will certainly be different than last fall as accommodations are made for the medically fragile and as institutions adapt to space and other conditions unique to each campus. … [But] we believe in the value and importance to students of the on-campus experience. It is simply a richer, more well-rounded educational experience.”
The university system announced July 7 that students, faculty, staff and visitors to the system’s 26 college and university campuses would be required to wear masks starting July 15.
The 25th signatory to the letter, University of Georgia President Jere Morehead, sent the letter on behalf of the other 24 presidents. The only president not to sign the letter, Kimberly Ballard-Washington, is serving Savannah State University in an interim role.
ATLANTA – While some school districts across Georgia have announced plans to start school next month with online instruction only, U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., is introducing legislation aimed at helping schools reopen safely
The Safely Creating Healthy Opening Options Locally (SCHOOL) Act would help schools prepare reopening plans amid the coronavirus pandemic based on input from health care professionals.
“With the school year quickly approaching, parents, teachers, and students are understandably anxious about eventually going back to the classroom in this current environment,” Perdue said Monday.
“I want to make sure schools can make the best decisions about reopening locally. I want to provide teachers with the tools they need to stay safe and keep our kids learning. I also want to make sure parents have some peace of mind knowing that their students will still have a positive learning experience, while protecting their families from COVID-19.”
Perdue’s bill would provide funding schools could use to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) and clean and disinfect school buildings. It also would make nurses and other health-care workers available to help with symptom checks and help schools develop procedures for notifying parents of potential COVID-19 cases.
Perdue is a close ally of President Donald Trump, who has made it clear he wants schools to reopen their doors this fall.
However, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia’s largest school district, announced Monday it would open schools next month with 100% digital instruction. Atlanta Public Schools made the same decision more than a week ago.
Other school systems will be conducting a hybrid of in-person classes and online instruction.
